Minister promises to investigate NU member's death
JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman said yesterday that an East Java Moslem's death in custody last week will be investigated.
Soesilo promised severe punishment for any official found responsible for the suspicious death of Ahmad Sidik, a member of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization from Situbondo.
"Whoever was involved in his death will be brought to trial," Soesilo announced.
Impartial investigation into Ahmad's death was demanded by NU chief Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur. He sent a petition to Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung Monday.
Gus Dur said Sidik died on Dec. 6 after being questioned at the Situbondo military and police offices over his role in the Oct. 10 religious riot in the town.
NU activists in East Java said that Ahmad died after being seriously wounded. They said he had been tortured during the investigation.
Ahmad was one of the 54 rioters arrested for allegedly instigating the riot in the predominantly Moslem Situbondo, well known for its reputable Islamic boarding schools.
The riots were sparked by Situbondo Moslems' anger over a jail term requested by the prosecution for a Moslem sect member standing trial on charges of blasphemy against Islam.
The angry mob took the law into their own hands because they considered the five-year jail term requested for the accused, Saleh, too lenient. People reportedly attempted to grab Saleh from the police with the intention of killing him, but failed.
Twenty one churches, five Catholic elementary schools, one Christian orphanage, two plazas, a court building, three cars and five motorcycles were set ablaze or attacked during the riots.
Gus Dur also said two of the riot's alleged instigators are also seriously ill after being questioned at the local security headquarters.
Spokesman for the armed forces Brig. Gen. Amir Syarifuddin was quoted by Merdeka daily as saying Monday that Ahmad died of "illness" but he did not specify the disease.
Strong reaction to the news of Ahmad's dead also came from the Indonesian Committee for Moslem Solidarity and the newly- established Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association.
The solidarity leader, Ahmad Sumargono, warned that failure to investigate Ahmad's death could anger Moslems from various groups.
He demanded severe punishment for any officers found guilty of torturing Ahmad. He called on the authorities to come out with the motives behind incident.
Chairman of the Institute for the Defense of Human Rights H.J.C. Princen also pressed the same demand.
"No torture is allowed during the questioning of a suspect or a defendant. A person will remain innocent until the court rules otherwise," Princen said quoting an article in the UN Convention on Human Rights.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Center for Human Rights Information and Education Agus Edi Santoso suggested an autopsy be performed on Ahmad.
"An autopsy would give strong evidence on the cause of Ahmad's death. This is important to avoid unnecessary controversy," he said.
Agus sent his petition Monday to the Commander of the Brawijaya Regional Military Command who oversees security in East Java. Copies of the letter were made available to the press yesterday.
The human rights activist also demanded the police repeal all the police records on the questioning of Sidik, saying the suspect had not been assisted by a lawyer in the interrogation.
"The procedure is against the law," he said. (imn)